Predictors of Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Research has indicated that several demographic and clinical factors may affect the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Few studies, however, have sufficient sample sizes for multivariate analyses to be tested. Furthermore, several important factors, such as arm morbidity, communication and comorbid illness, have not been included in quality of life models The aim of this study was to predict the simultaneous effect of these factors on long-term quality of life. Breast cancer patients (n = 990) completed a quality of life survey, including the EORTC QLQ-C30, over five years. Clinical details were registered in the Munich Cancer Registry. Eleven predictors across eight quality of life domains were analyzed over a period of five years using a logistic regression model. Arm problems, communication, comorbidity, age, surgery. and, to a lesser extent, marital, educational and employment status were significantly associated with quality of life. Adjuvant therapy, medical insurance and pT category were not significant predictors. This study is the first to demonstrate the consistency and strength of arm dysfunction and doctor-patient communication on breast cancer patients' quality of life. These important factors in breast cancer care can be improved and should be regarded as a priority.

Personality traits and psychosocial stress: quality of life over 2 years following breast cancer diagnosis and psychological impact factors

“…This study used the subscales of body image, arm symptoms, and breast symptoms, as studies have reported longlasting problems in these areas [4,20,21]. Higher mean scores on the body image scale represent better functioning, whereas higher mean scores on the symptom scales represent more symptoms.…”

“…The selection of age, tumor size, axillary surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy as sociodemographic and oncological impact factors on the QoL of breast cancer patients is based on clinical studies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. The impact of primary surgical treatment (BCT vs mastectomy), especially in relation to long-term body image, would also have been of interest [3,5], but the very small subgroup of patients treated with mastectomy (8%) did not allow statistical analysis.…”

“…Age has been examined as a possible sociodemographic impact factor affecting QoL [6][7][8][9]. Other sociodemographic factors, such as marital status, living situation, education level, and occupation have been investigated to a lesser extent [2,4]. Several studies have demonstrated that psychological factors, rather than illness-related factors or sociodemographic variables, are predictive of emotional well-being and QoL among breast cancer patients [10][11][12].…”

“…Most studies have focused on clinical factors affecting QoL in breast cancer patients, such as the type of surgery, adjuvant treatment, clinical tumor size, number of positive axillary nodes, and comorbidity [1][2][3][4][5]. Age has been examined as a possible sociodemographic impact factor affecting QoL [6][7][8][9].…”

Impact of different post-remission strategies on quality of life in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

“…28 The questions about current symptoms were developed by the Munich Cancer Registry (MCR) of the Munich Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCC) and had already been used in various surveys of breast cancer and rectal cancer patients. [29][30][31] The second part of the questionnaire was the EORTC QLQ-C30, a validated QOL evaluation tool. [32][33][34] This questionnaire contains 30 questions covering five functional scales (physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and role), a global QOL measure, and symptoms including pain, fatigue, diarrhea, and constipation.…”